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Expo is a fountain of tastiness

The New Hampshire Chocolate Expo returns

If Willy Wonka weren’t tied down to one location, his job might look a lot like Christy Charest’s. Charest is the Social Media Manager for the Chocolate Expo, a company that holds convention-sized chocolate parties throughout the Northeast. Her next event will be the New Hampshire Chocolate Expo at the Doubletree Expo Center (700 Elm St., Manchester) on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Charest said that the goal of a chocolate expo is to introduce people to chocolate producers and chocolate-adjacent crafts, but even more, to help them relax and be happy.

“It’s a way for guests to come and unplug and reconnect with friends and family and just enjoy a chocolate,” she said. “We’re not a typical event where people come and they’re buying food or chocolate or drinks. There are lots of different aspects to the event, including a stage where we have lots of presentations, demonstrations that involve chocolate making, and even special guests. For this [the Manchester] event we have the top Freddy Krueger cosplayer coming. The event takes place on Elm Street. We found that it was very fitting, especially with the time of year.”

Although it is called an Expo, Charest said this event is very much designed for the general public.

“[When guests come in] they’re greeted with giant chocolate fountains — white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate fountains. They can pick their Rice Krispies treats, or chips or strawberries — anything they want. You put it on a skewer and you’re able to dip it right in the chocolate. There’s anything you can imagine. There’s slow-roasted nuts, whoopie pies, macarons, jumbo peanut butter cups, chocolate buns, [and] chocolate covered bacon. [For] children we have a Kid Zone; included with admission for any of the littles is free face painting and balloon twisting.”

She said that the Chocolate Expo is meant to be a memorable experience.

“There are free photo ops as well at all of our events. We have a step-and-repeat banner [photo backdrop] with all of these different photo props — with giant cardboard cutouts of chocolate-dipped strawberries and bonbons and truffles — and we have a photographer that’s there that will take your photos for you at no additional charge.”

Rachel Mack will be one of the exhibitors at the Chocolate Expo. She will also give one of the presentations. “It will be just a short little talk,” she said. “‘I’m going to discuss what goes into making a chocolate bar, but specifically how our cacao comes from all over the world.” She will discuss how her company, Loon Chocolate (195 McGregor St., Manchester), sources local ingredients. “We have a couple of different collaborations that we have with local, other local businesses. [Our ingredients range] from the global cacao bean to local maple sugar — everything that goes into one of our chocolate bars.”

Mack said there is something special about the Chocolate Expo in Manchester.

“There are chocolate expos that we’ve done all over the Northeast,” she said. “We’ve done chocolate expos in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in New York, in New Jersey, and I love the crowd at the New Hampshire one. It is a crush of people who show up. Everyone wants to have fun. Everyone wants to try chocolate and people really like to take time to appreciate the chocolate. I really love that.”

The crowds at expos like this one aren’t made up solely of chocolate connoisseurs.

“It’s just anyone who loves chocolate shows up,” Mack said. “Actually, I shouldn’t even say ‘anyone who loves chocolate.’ There was a guy who came to our booth at an event who had a T-shirt that said ‘I Hate Chocolate.’ We did get him to admit that he’s still not a fan of chocolate but if he had to [eat it] he would like ours.”

The New Hampshire Chocolate Expo
When: Sunday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Doubletree Expo Center, 700 Elm St., Manchester.
Tickets: General admission “timed-entry” tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Late Day Special tickets for admission after 4 p.m. are $10. Online VIP tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children, which allows admittance one hour early. These are available through eventbrite.com. General admission tickets at the door are $30 for adults, and $15 for children.

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 24/10/03

News from the local food scene

• The days of wine and sunflowers? On Thursday, Oct. 3, Barrel and Baskit (377 Main St., Hopkinton, 746-1375, barrelandbaskit.com) will host a Sunny Sunflowers Flower Bar & Wine Tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. Each guest will be able to pick a bouquet of sunflowers and other late summer/early fall flowers, enjoy wine and an appetizer bar, and socialize with other sunflower enthusiasts. Tickets are $85.

• Block Party: 603 Brewery (42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com) will host a Fall Fest Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 5, from noon to 9:30 p.m. The 603 will take over Main Street with food trucks, live music, a stein holding contest, axe throwing, 603 Scratch Kitchen specials and more.

• Books and Brownies: On Saturday, Oct. 5, The Friends of the Brookline Public Library (16 Main St., Brookline, 673-3330, brooklinelibrarynh.org) will hold their semi-annual Used Book & Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4 Main St. The funds raised by the Friends are used for library programs, including the Summer Reading Program and Museum Passes

• Fun with tacos: Celebrate an evening of tacos Saturday, Oct. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m in downtown Franklin.The first Fiesta del Taco will bring together community members and support local businesses as they transform their normal menus to serve tacos. Participants will vote for their favorite. Complete a Taco Passport for a chance to win prizes.

On The Job – Patti Sexton

Volunteer Coordinator

Patti Sexton is the Volunteer Coordinator for UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center (153 Paige Hill Road, Goffstown, 497-2343), a nonprofit that works to improve the well-being of individuals with and without disabilities by partnering them with horses. Visit upreachtec.org or reach out to Patti for volunteer opportunities at patti@upreachtec.com.

Explain your job and what it entails.

What I’m responsible for is making sure that we have appropriate volunteers in every lesson so that the therapeutic riding or therapeutic carriage driving lessons run safely and effectively. … We also support volunteers that come in from several area agencies and they may come in and help us muck stalls or clean tack or vacuum or do laundry. It’s a very lengthy list of what we engage volunteers at the barn to do.

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been attached to UpReach since 2012 as a volunteer, and then I became staff in the winter of 2023.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

So it was kind of an interesting path. My background is in education and psychology and I taught for a few years and then bounced around in different jobs, always knowing that my passion is actually people and horses. So it was an easy partnership when I found this as a volunteer site for myself. I basically fell in love with it and couldn’t wait to spend more time here.

What kind of education or training did you need?

For this job it’s been a lot of on-the-job training. You need to learn how to interact with lots of people, how to navigate large groups of people, how to have oversight of groups that might come in and do work on the property; different organizations often will schedule workdays with us. …. A lot of the training has really just been on the job, learning what works well, learning what maybe didn’t work well and what I could do differently the next time.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

It usually involves jeans and a sweatshirt in the winter and shorts and a T-shirt in the summer. Often, you know, there’s a lot of mud and muck stuck to your shoes. There may be hay in your hair.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had known when I was a psychology major that there was such a thing as equine-facilitated mental health. It is a field that I find fascinating …

What was your first job?

My very, very first job was as a bank teller when I was in high school.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

… [R]emember you’re part of a community, wherever you’re working, and to understand it, and to see how it moves…

—Zachary Lewis

Five favorites
Favorite book: Gosh golly, there’s a bunch. There is a book called This is How it Always is. I just thought it was very well-written and it captured life and all of its challenges very beautifully.
Favorite movie: I would say one of my favorites is The Shining.
Favorite music: I really like country. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, that kind of strain.
Favorite food: Chocolate
Favorite thing about NH: I love the fact that we have four seasons…. I just think it’s a beautiful spot.

Featured photo: Patti Sexton. Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 24/10/03

Dear Donna,

I just purchased my first in what I hope will be a small collection of pig cutting boards. How can I tell which ones are the best to collect? I don’t intend on using them but could I use older ones still?

Thank you, Donna.

Danielle

Dear Danielle,

I want to start off by saying what a nice collection it will be! Cutting boards have been around for centuries. Pig-shaped ones were popular during the 1930s and 1940s.

I think if I were collecting them I would go for clean ones with no damage. Some cutting marks on the surface wouldn’t bother me. Being that old, some might have been overused or have become oily or discolored or have edge damage. Even though they have come from the 1930s you still can find them in clean condition.

As far as using them, there are all kinds of cleaning agents for wood out there, including food-safe conditioning oils. After cleaning them I would feel comfortable using them for serving on. I think, though, if I wanted to use one for cutting I would mix in a new one to my collection. That’s just my preference.

Remember collecting is an investment as well. The values on pig cutting boards run from $10 to $100.

Danielle, I’m happy to share with readers people collecting items from the past. It always puts a smile on my face being an antique enthusiast. Thanks for sharing.

Note: Pig shapes are considered good luck!

Kiddie Pool 24/10/03

Family fun for whenever

Fall fun

• Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road, Bedford, 472-4724, theeducationalfarm.org) will hold a Fall Fair on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature artisan booths, food trucks, vendors, tractor rides, apples, pumpkin decorating, live music, kids’ activities and farm fun. Tickets cost $15 (plus fees) per person or $30 (plus fees) per family.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) holds its Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, as well as Saturday, Oct. 14, through Monday, Oct. 16. Admission costs $29 per person (23 months and younger get in free). Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, enjoy live music and more. The festival also features a cow milking contest (not involving a real cow), pumpkin art, costumed characters and a visit with the farm’s animals. Charmingfare’s Halloween events include children’s trick-or-treat (the last three weekends in October) for families and younger kids and Harvest of Haunts (Oct. 19, Oct. 20, Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 in the early evening) for families and ages 12 and under (but who are old enough for some spookiness).

• Applecrest Farm Orchards (133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest. com) continue their weekend celebrations with the Fall Festival this week, which will feature live music from Reunion Hill Band on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Unsung Heroes on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. Look for activities including the corn maze, tractor rides, visits with barnyard animals, lawn games and a traditional corn roast, according to the website.

Science Fiesta!

SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org) is holding a Science Fiesta on Friday, Oct. 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the Latino contributions to STEM, according to the website. This family event will feature food from Don Quijote, science demonstrations, music and more and is sponsored by SEE, Centro Latino de New Hampshire and Nashua Family Network, the website said. Entry is free with registration on the website, where you can also find information on bus transportation to the event for those living in Manchester.

For the little guys

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org) wraps up its annual celebration of the youngest museumgoers — Toddlerfest continues through Sunday, Oct. 6, with daily activities for little kids. Some of the events planned for this week include princess storytime on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; parachute play at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4; Hispanic Heritage Month crafts on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Science Friday experiment at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and more. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months; $10.50 for 65+. The museum has sessions Wednesday through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Art Roundup 24/10/03

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• From the Potters Guild: The New Hampshire Potters Guild is displaying its 2024 Biennial Show, “Hands on Earth,” now at Kimball Jenkins Art and Community Center (266 N. Main St. in Concord) through Saturday, Nov. 2. The show features “an array of works from the talented members of the NH Potters Guild, showcasing the diversity of styles, techniques, and approaches that each artist brings to their craft. From wheel-thrown vessels to hand-built sculptures, the exhibition reflects the rich variety of contemporary ceramics in New Hampshire, all rooted in the elemental material of clay,” according to a release from the Guild. The exhibition is on view in the Mansion and Carriage House on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 to 6 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fore more on the New Hampshir Potters Guild, see nhpottersguild.org.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Milford Area Players take you to Sleepy Hollow for the tale of Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and the Headless Horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, adapted by John Heimbuch and Jon Ferguson, according to a press release. The play finishes its run this weekend at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St., Milford, amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company) with shows through Sunday, Oct. 6. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $21.65 for adults, $16.46 for students and seniors. See milfordareaplayers.org.

• Harvest Fair: The Craftworkers Guild, based in Bedford, will open the doors of its shop at Oliver Kendall House at 3 Meetinghouse Road Thursday, Oct. 3, through Monday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Get a look at some of the items in the shop — including jewelry, decor, honey soap — on their Facebook page.

• Use your voice: Truepenny Arts (truepennyarts.com) will hold a workshop on “Opening Up Your Voice: Conservatory Tricks!” on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon for ages 16 and up at Diamond Rolfing & Movement Studio, 210 N. State St. in Concord. The cost is a suggested $20, according to a Truepenny newsletter. “Interested in easily accessible and repeatable ways to ‘open up’ your voice, to find more fullness, resonance, and clarity? Graduate/conservatory-level instruction and take-home materials provided,” the newsletter said. The workshop is facilitated by Truepenny’s Michael Cobb, the newsletter said. For more information, contact Michael at truepnny@gmail.com or call 545-8351.